Home end of garden moorings.

[AJLElectronics]

Just has a chat with CRT who told me that applications for end of garden moorings are suspended until further notice.  He didn't want to expand on that and I got the distinct impression that he would rather go back to his "doom scrolling" than have to talk to a newbie. 

 

He didn't want to explain the difference between a "Gold" licence and a "River and canal licence" either.  I didn't push it as his indifference was clear.

[Col_T]

River and Canal License gives you access to all C&RT waterways.

A Gold license adds Environment Agency rivers to the River & Canal License.

 

Note that not all navigable inland waterways are controlled by C&RT and EA; the River Wey, for instance, is controlled by the National Trust.

[AJLElectronics]

7 minutes ago, Col_T said:

River and Canal License gives you access to all C&RT waterways.

A Gold license adds Environment Agency rivers to the River & Canal License.

 

Note that not all navigable inland waterways are controlled by C&RT and EA; the River Wey, for instance, is controlled by the National Trust.

 

I am most grateful for that simple explanation.  I'm not sure why he couldn't have imparted that!

 

Is there a reference somewhere to show who controls what please?

9 minutes ago, AJLElectronics said:

A Gold license adds Environment Agency rivers to the River & Canal License.

 

So a "Gold" is additional then the the R&C licence. Now I have got it.

Edited June 17, 2025 by AJLElectronics

[Alan de Enfield]

 

There are some 21 authorities who have responsibility for navigation for inland waters within their remit.

 

The two largest are C&RT (3000 Km) and the EA, (1162 Km) you then have the likes of 'Manchester Ship Canal' (58 Km) The Bridgewater Canal, (65 Km) The Middle Level Commisioners (150 Km), the PLA (Port of London')(125 Km ) The Broards Authority (200+km) etc etc.

 

Many of which you will use transiting from one Canal to another, and will normally require the purchase of 'their' licence. Some have reciprocal rights with C&RT so their licence holders can use both waterways.

Edited June 17, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[doratheexplorer]

I think the OP said his home canal was the G&S, so he ought to know that the Warwickshire Avon is run by its own navigation authority, as it's not far from him.

[Hudds Lad]

Was it one of their employees you chatted to, or just a volunteer? May have been hiding their lack of knowledge under an air of indifference in an attempt to not appear clueless.

 

I only ask as i once got chatting to one of their chuggers at the top of Foxton locks who i'd seen a few days before at Crick when he tried to butter me up, nice chap but not very knowledgeable as he'd only been at it a couple of weeks. He was wearing full livery and it wasn't apparent at first that he was just a fundraiser.

[dmr]

The CRT phone anseering folk are a bit variable, anything from really good to chocolate teapot. Leave it a couple of days and phone again and you might get a better one.

[Tony Brooks]

22 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said:

I think the OP said his home canal was the G&S, so he ought to know that the Warwickshire Avon is run by its own navigation authority, as it's not far from him.

 

but the OP talked about tidal range, and I doubt there is much actual tidal range on the G&S. Tidal range suggests a tidal river, unless the OP is just talking about normal water level fluctuations, but even then, it still suggests river rather than canal. I think he needs to be clearer where this actually is, because, as others have said, river navigation authorities, be they tidal or not, may well not have any power of controlling end of own garden moorings. If it is a river then the OP needs to establish who the riparian owner is, and i very much doubt it is CaRT.

[AJLElectronics]

I have had a chat with the boatyard owner and he waxed lyrical, telling me everything I needed to know and also things I didn't know that I needed to know!

1 minute ago, Tony Brooks said:

ut the OP talked about tidal range, and I doubt there is much actual tidal range on the G&S. Tidal range suggests a tidal river,

 

Yes, the River Severn where it flows from Gloucester to Bristol.  It passes outside my window at Minsterworth.

 

 

[GUMPY]

The marina where it was for sale is on the River Avon if I think right 

That comes under Avon Navigation Trust. Unless you leave the Avon that's the only one you will need.

 

[AJLElectronics]

Just now, GUMPY said:

The marina where it was for sale is on the River Avon if I think right 

That comes under Avon Navigation Trust. Unless you leave the Avon that's the only one you will need.

 

 

You would be correct.  When I have enough experience I would like to run it down the Severn though.  That time may be some way off!

4 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

If it is a river then the OP needs to establish who the riparian owner is, and i very much doubt it is CaRT.

 

I believe it to be my next door neighbour who didn't make any negative noises when I ran the idea past him.

[Tony Brooks]

2 minutes ago, AJLElectronics said:

Yes, the River Severn where it flows from Gloucester to Bristol.  It passes outside my window at Minsterworth.

 

In which case, if you own the land you may not need anyone's permission to moor there as long as you don't put anything into the river bed. nothing to do with CaRT, but the EA as the flood control authority may have stipulations.

 

If you look at the moorings below Evesham bridge, you will see some riparian owners have fixed hinged A frames to THEIR bank to secure the boat, so it rises and falls with the floods, but it would work just as well with tides. 

4 minutes ago, AJLElectronics said:

I believe it to be my next door neighbour who didn't make any negative noises when I ran the idea past him.

 

I would suggest that unless it is a very odd shaped plot, or you are renting, that is unlikely. Time to look at deeds, I think.

[AJLElectronics]

1 minute ago, Tony Brooks said:

If you look at the moorings below Evesham bridge, you will see some riparian owners have fixed hinged A frames to THEIR bank to secure the boat, so it rises and falls with the floods, but it would work just as well with tides. 

 

What a very interesting idea, thank you. Even with a high Bore, that should work well.  It will then just be a matter of how to board at low tide, but thinking aloud, maybe an A frame with a walkway?

[doratheexplorer]

11 minutes ago, AJLElectronics said:

I have had a chat with the boatyard owner and he waxed lyrical, telling me everything I needed to know and also things I didn't know that I needed to know!

 

Yes, the River Severn where it flows from Gloucester to Bristol.  It passes outside my window at Minsterworth.

 

 

This is effectively a non-navigable stretch of river.  Certainly it is not possible to moor here.  I'm aware that some highly experienced boaters do use it when water levels permit, but it is definitely not for a novice.

[Tony Brooks]

4 minutes ago, AJLElectronics said:

 

What a very interesting idea, thank you. Even with a high Bore, that should work well.  It will then just be a matter of how to board at low tide, but thinking aloud, maybe an A frame with a walkway?

 

Why not, and I don't think that you will need a licence until you take it off the tideway. However, take care and note what Dora said, but I suspect there may be a confusion between "not possible" and "not normal".  I also doubt that it is "not navigable", before the G&S it was the only way to get to Gloucester and beyond, but care and experience would be needed.

Edited June 17, 2025 by Tony Brooks

[GUMPY]

Just remember that the Avon like it's Sisters (Nene, Soar and Gt Ouse) love to flood,  sometimes even in summer (2007)

One boater in Evesham nearly lost two boats one at Easter 1998 and the second in summer 2007 just after he had returned to his mooring after years away.

I would want a very good floating mooring to persuade me to moor on line on the Avon or Nene. Those rivers can come up a matter of 8ft in a few hours and can be very scary.

Right that's enough doom they are beautiful rivers😎

[AJLElectronics]

8 minutes ago, GUMPY said:

I would want a very good floating mooring to persuade me to moor on line on the Avon or Nene. Those rivers can come up a matter of 8ft in a few hours and can be very scary.

 

It does out here.  Look at the water level in my photo and then imagine it all the way up the bank and covering the bare earth area nearly to the fence line.  There is a built up flood defence there, but even so it can be 18" from the top at high tide / Bore.

Edited June 17, 2025 by AJLElectronics

[Wafi]

38 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

Why not, and I don't think that you will need a licence until you take it off the tideway. However, take care and note what Dora said, but I suspect there may be a confusion between "not possible" and "not normal".  I also doubt that it is "not navigable", before the G&S it was the only way to get to Gloucester and beyond, but care and experience would be needed.

It's on my to-do list. Not sure on the boat; a sailing dinghy could be fun, but a kayak might be more sensible...

[AJLElectronics]

Just now, Wafi said:

It's on my to-do list. Not sure on the boat; a sailing dinghy could be fun, but a kayak might be more sensible...

 

We have lots of craft out here.  The Minsterworth Water Ski Club is regularly out and we also have a fast Hydrofoil?  A boat with a big fan on the back anyway. 😉

 

[Alan de Enfield]

4 minutes ago, AJLElectronics said:

we also have a fast Hydrofoil?

 

A hydrofoil has wings underwater which, when it reaches suufficient speed, takes off leaving just the wings in the water

 

 

 

I think you may mean an 'Airboat' - they only need a couple of inches of water depth

 

 

 

 

Edited June 17, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[Tony Brooks]

I think Wye Invader uses that part of the Severn and puts up YouTube videos of it - he also seems to cross the weir onto the "navigable" Severn on spring tides.

[AJLElectronics]

5 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

I think you may mean an 'Airboat' - they only need a couple of inches of water depth

 

That is what it is, my grateful thanks for the correction.

[GUMPY]

There is a very good reason they built the G&S canal. 🤔

I wouldn't consider mooring a boat on the river just there.

Somehow even with our 6m tidal range here it feels safer.

Mind you I could walk to the boat at low tide🤭

 

[AJLElectronics]

Just now, GUMPY said:

There is a very good reason they built the G&S canal. 🤔

I wouldn't consider mooring a boat on the river just there.

Somehow even with our 6m tidal range here it feels safer.

Mind you I could walk to the boat at low tide🤭

 

 

I have always been a bit of an anarchist.  If someone says that something can't be done, I often set out to prove otherwise.  That is one reason why I got into Reliant, some bigotted sneering led me to find out the truth and then smell of warm GRP got under my skin! So I have ended up with a GP cruiser rather than a narrowboat.

[Alan de Enfield]

1 minute ago, AJLElectronics said:

 

I have always been a bit of an anarchist.  If someone says that something can't be done, I often set out to prove otherwise.  That is one reason why I got into Reliant, some bigotted sneering led me to find out the truth and then smell of warm GRP got under my skin! So I have ended up with a GP cruiser rather than a narrowboat.

 

I also had a Reliant (Del Boy) van, have had any number of 'plastic' boat, currently a Large (plastic) Catamaran and a (plastic)  Motor cruiser.